Spotlight for A Sprinkle of Sweet Serendipity by Rachel Linden

 

A Sprinkle of Sweet Serendipity by Rachel Linden

Published:  May 19, 2026 by Berkley

Genre:  Magical Realism, Fantasy

Taken from Goodreads:  A tantalizing novel about a struggling chocolatier who is granted a magical vision of the future of her dreams, only to realize that her heart may desire something else entirely, from the bestselling author of The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie.

Paris trained chocolatier and single mother Emmie Wynne gave up her own dreams six years ago when she returned to her Pacific Northwest coastal tourist town to run her family’s struggling candy store. Now on her thirty-fourth birthday, Emmie has only one wish, to be granted the vision that every Wynne woman is given once in her lifetime—a shimmering glimpse of her true destiny. This year, when she blows out her candles, it finally comes true.

Her vision is more delectable than she could’ve imagined—her very own artisanal chocolate shop filled with decadent truffles and caramels, and her celebrity crush, Henry Summers, down on one knee. And when Henry suddenly arrives in town for the summer, offering Emmie the opportunity of a lifetime, the future in her vision suddenly seems possible.

But a rekindled connection with Jakob, her former high school best friend turned hunky, brooding tattooed baker, forces Emmie to grapple with the bittersweet realization that her destiny may not be what her heart truly longs for. As the culmination of her vision draws nearer, can Emmie find the courage to create a happiness of her own making?

 

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Meet the Author(taken from her website):  Rachel Linden is the bestselling author of many novels, including THE SECRET OF ORANGE BLOSSOM CAKE and THE MAGIC OF LEMON DROP PIE, which is now a Hallmark movie called THE MAGIC OF LEMON DROPS. She loves creating stories about strong women facing big challenges, food, travel, and second chances at love...

Rachel’s taste for adventure and interest in people first led her to a career as an international worker with a faith-based aid organization, and her experiences living and traveling in more than fifty countries around the globe continue to provide excellent grist for her stories. She loves writing novels that combine so many of her favorite things – strong women facing big challenges, food, travel, and second chances at love. Rachel enjoys crafting bittersweet stories of struggles and triumphs infused with a touch of magical realism and with ultimately happy, or at least very hopeful, endings.

Currently Rachel lives with her husband and children on a sweet little island near Seattle. When she’s not dreaming up a new story, she enjoys camping with her family in their pop top campervan, exploring the beauty of the Pacific Northwest, eating sushi, and having grand adventures in far flung places.

Book Review for 14 by J.T. Ellison

 

Taylor Jackson #2

14 by J.T. Ellison

Published:   May 19 2026

Genre:  Mystery Thriller, Romantic Suspense

Taken from Goodreads:  Ten victims, each with pale skin and long dark hair. All have been slashed across the throat, the same red lipstick smeared across their lips.In the mid-1980s the Snow White Killer terrorized the streets of Nashville, Tennessee. Then suddenly the murders stopped. A letter from the killer to the police stated that his work was done.

Now four more bodies are found, marked with his fatal signature. The residents of Nashville fear a madman has returned, decades later, to finish his sick fairy tale. Homicide Lieutenant Taylor Jackson believes the killings are the work of a copycat killer who's even more terrifying. For this monster is meticulously honing his craft as he mimics famous serial murders...proving that the past is not to be forgotten.

My Thoughts:   I devoured this book!  I am a huge J.T. Ellison fan, and this book is one of my favorites.   I could not put this book down and I was left hungry for more of Lt. Taylor Jackson.  

J.T. Ellison writes a thriller with great attention to details without going too far. I could picture the scenes Lt. Taylor Jackson was seeing without the gore.  I could feel the anxiety the Lt. was feeling as she worked to catch Snow White.  The pride she took in solving her cases gave me no doubt that she would figure out this case. 

The ending… YIKES!   I cannot wait for book #3 to see what is next.  The book did not end in a cliffhanger in the sense that there is an ending but it did end with a clue that there is more to come. 

Thank you Thomas & Mercer for a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

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Meet the Author (taken from her website):   J.T. Ellison is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than thirty novels of psychological suspense, including the Lt. Taylor Jackson series, the Dr. Samantha Owens series, and numerous acclaimed standalones. She is the Emmy Award–winning cohost of A Word on Words, the literary television series on PBS.

Over a twenty-year career, her work has earned widespread critical recognition, with titles optioned for television and published in thirty countries, and millions of copies in print worldwide.

A dedicated voice in the writing community, she also publishes The Creative Edge, a newsletter and blog for writers navigating the craft and business of fiction.

She lives with her husband and twin kittens—one of whom is a ghost—in Nashville, Tennessee. 

 

 

 

Release Blitz for Accidentally in Love by Stacy Travis

 

Accidentally in Love by Stacy Travis is now live! Accidentally Pregnant... Accidentally Charmed by the Grumpy Cowboy... Accidentally in Love When I inherit the dilapidated Loveland Ranch on my birthday, I do what any self-respecting L.A. career woman would do —have one unforgettable night with a hot, broody cowboy and skedaddle before sunrise. But when I hear that a crabby neighbor is suing my beloved grandmother’s estate, I decide her legacy is worth the dirt under my manicure and start renovating. Cue the hot, broody cowboy, who rides up on a horse and informs me he’s the crab. And just when I think things can’t get worse, the universe hands me another surprise. A little pink plus sign. Fitz and I have nothing in common except being fiercely independent. We come from different worlds. We have different visions for the future. We don’t share the same dreams, backgrounds, or even the same zip code. But it doesn’t take long before I find myself wishing for all the things I’d given up on—a real partnership with a protective, kind, hot-as-sin man who reassures me I’m not fighting my battles alone. Except he’s fighting his own battles, and they may be too big for us to overcome. Will this accidental family we created lead to heartbreak? Or could it be the life I’ve always wanted? Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited https://bit.ly/3PKKx9C Goodreads: https://bit.ly/4tiEc3C

Spotlight for Good Joy, Bad Joy by Mikki Brammer

 

Good Joy, Bad Joy by Mikki Brammer

Published:  May 5, 2026 by St. Martin's Press

Genre:  Literary Fiction

Taken from Goodreads:  From the bestselling author of The Collected Regrets of Clover comes a vibrant, heartfelt novel about friendship over the decades, self-discovery, and what it means to have a life well-lived.

Break the rules. Find your joy.

For over eighty years, Joy Bridport has played by the rules: she's been a devoted wife and mother, contributing to the community in her small Hudson Valley town. But her quiet existence is jolted when she learns that her best friend, Hazel, only has months left to live. Hazel has always been the more adventurous one of their duo, and she seems at peace with all that she’s squeezed out of her long life. Yet Joy realizes she can’t say the same.

Determined to live boldly and make the most of the time that she and Hazel have left together, Joy steps outside of her comfort zone—and into a bit of trouble. But as her foray into rule-breaking escalates into committing petty crime, Joy must consider what kind of legacy she wants to leave behind, and whether there's a way for her to embrace the liberation that "Bad Joy" offers without losing all that she holds dear.

Is it ever too late to become who we're meant to be? With laugh-out-loud hijnks and emotional heft, Good Joy, Bad Joy is a heartwarming and wise celebration of the choices we make, the friendships we cherish, and the lengths we go for love.

 

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Meet the Author (taken from her website):  Mikki Brammer is a writer from Tasmania, Australia, now based in New York City via France and Spain.

Her debut novel, The Collected Regrets of Clover, was a USA Today bestseller and is so far published in 27 languages. It was named a Best Book of Summer 2023 by the New York Times, a Best Book of 2023 by NPR, and was a Book of the Month pick for May 2023. It was also nominated for the 2023 Goodreads Choice Awards for Best Debut and Best Fiction. Her second novel, Good Joy, Bad Joy, will be published on May 19, 2026.

In addition to fiction, Mikki writes about architecture, art, and design for publications including Architectural Digest, Dwell, ELLE Decor, and Metropolis.

Book Review for The Hope Keeper by Heather Webb

 

The Hope Keeper by Heather Webb

Published:  May 19, 2026 by Sourcebooks Landmark

Genre:  Historical Fiction

Taken from Goodreads:  1919, Washington D.C. Elisabeth Beaumont comes from a renowned jeweler family, but after the untimely death of her twin brother, she's left on her own to run the failing family business. Desperate for work, she approaches the affluent crowd her brother Julien once courted to expand Beaumont Jewelers. Their ringleader is wealthy socialite Evalyn McLean, owner of the world's most infamous gemstone, rumored to curse all who travel within its orbit. 

The Hope Diamond.

As Elisabeth is swept into Evalyn's toxic world of dark opulence, the lines defining who she is and where she belongs begin to blur, leading Elisabeth to question all she once believed. She's no longer certain she wants to take over the family business and be beholden to the wealthy elite of D.C. But she can't fathom leaving her father in the lurch. There's also Evalyn to consider, and the Hope Diamond, which beckons Elisabeth to admire it, touch it, care for it, despite every warning she's been told.

When tragedy strikes one night, not only is Elisabeth's fragile friendship with Evalyn put to the test, but her carefully constructed glamorous new life comes crashing down. Now Elisabeth must face the truth about her brother's death and decide what matters most. 

My Thoughts: Heather Webb is a must-read author.  Her historical fiction books are so realistic, and the characters are relatable and true to the era. The Hope Keeper is a great story set around the Hope Diamond.  I enjoyed that the diamond told it’s own story during parts of the story while most of the story is told by those around the diamond. 

The story had its slow moments, parts that I felt the book dragged and I was not sure if I would finish the book.   I am so very glad that I stuck with it, I enjoyed seeing Elisabeth interact with Evalyn and her friends while trying to put together what happened to her brother Julian. 

The Hope Keeper is a fun look at the Hope Diamond and the life of the elite in Washington D.C. 

Thank you Sourcebooks Landmark for a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

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Meetthe Author (taken from her website);  Heather Webb is the USA Today and international bestselling author of eleven historical novels, including her upcoming The Hope Keeper and her other recently published  Queens of London, The Next Ship Home, and Christmas with the Queen. In 2015, Rodin’s Lover was a Goodread’s Top Pick, and in 2018, Last Christmas in Paris won the Women’s Fiction Writers Association STAR Award. Meet Me in Monaco, was selected as a finalist for the 2020 Goldsboro RNA award in the UK, as well as the 2019 Digital Book World’s Fiction prize. Three Words for Goodbye was a Prima Magazine’s 2022 Book of the Year. To date, Heather’s books have been translated to twenty languages. She lives in New England with her family and two mischievous cats.

ADVANCE PRAISE FOR THE HOPE KEEPER:

“Centered around the cursed Hope diamond, Webb’s latest sparkles with intrigue … Richly imagined and hauntingly beautiful, the story will linger long after you’ve turned the last page.”

— Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Stolen Queen

 

“Heather Webb plunges readers into the high-stakes world of precious jewels and the rarefied company of those who collect and trade in such treasure. [It’s] a story of family secrets, second chances, and the fabled curse of the incomparable Hope Diamond. Webb’s writing sparkles as her plucky, intrepid heroine cuts through the tangled and toxic world of the rich and the reckless in order to redeem her past and save her family’s future.”

—  Allison Pataki, New York Times bestselling author of It Girl

 

“THE HOPE KEEPER is instantly transportive, swiftly tangling readers in the Gatsby-esque world of 1919 Washington, DC and the mystery, lore, and magnetism surrounding one of history’s most celebrated— and feared—gemstones, the Hope Diamond. I read this book in one sitting and know without a doubt that THE HOPE KEEPER will be the must-read book of summer.” — Joy Callaway, international bestselling author of The Star of Camp Greene

 

"Glittering with history, mystery, glamour, and legend, The Hope Keeper follows a young jeweler drawn to the allure of the Hope Diamond and its rumored curse. Rich in historical detail and heart, this gripping story of family, courage, and secrets is an absolute must read." — Madeline Martin, New York Times bestselling author of The Secret Book Society

 

Release Blitz for Something About Her by J. Nathan

 

Something About Her by J. Nathan is now live!

Thayer Caruthers was on top of the world--until he lost everything.

After his mother's death shatters him, the one girl he shouldn't want becomes the one he can't forget. His best friend's sister. The almost-kiss that ruined everything. The line he should've never crossed.

Now he's stepped away from competing, forced to watch his best friend rise to snowboarding superstardom while he drowns in grief and what-ifs.

Giselle McCloud has always played by the rules. Loyal sister. Responsible business owner. Safe girlfriend to her business partner. But the night Thayer almost kissed her? It cracked something open she can't seal shut.

And when her world comes crashing down, it's not her brother or her boyfriend who she needs.

It's Thayer.

The one man she can't have.

The one person who understands her.

The one mistake that might be worth making.

  Download today!

Amazon: https://bit.ly/3OHeEyL  

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Google Play: https://bit.ly/4lN9ZqN   

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3NBeOHm 

 

Meet J. Nathan

J. Nathan is the author of new adult, sports, and rock star romances with cocky heroes and sassy heroines. When she's not writing, she's a crazy baseball mom and a total romance junkie! She loves country music, guys in backward hats, iced coffee, and the summertime.

 

Connect with J.

Website | http://www.jnathan.net/   

Goodreads | https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8202337.J_Nathan   

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Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/jnathanauthor     

Facebook Group |  bit.ly/JNathanReaderGroup     

Instagram |  http://instagram.com/jnathanauthor    

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Pinterest |  https://www.pinterest.com/jnathanbooks       

Newsletter |  http://eepurl.com/bYa6_L 

Book Review for The Rulebreaker by Piper Rayne

 

The Rulebreaker by Piper Rayne is now live! I’m the coach’s daughter. Falling for one of my father's players was never the plan. Especially not Decker Davis. Chicago Colts third baseman. Dependable. Steady. The guy everyone trusts. And the man who’s spent years keeping his distance—especially from me. We have history. The kind that ten years and a thousand miles can’t touch. So, this time, I promised myself I'd be smarter. No getting attached. No blurred lines. And definitely, no falling. He broke every last one within the first week. Because Decker doesn’t just show up for me. He shows up for my daughter. Because he fits into our lives like he was always meant to be there. Because he looks at me like I was never something he wanted to lose. And suddenly, the walls I've spent years building don't feel nearly as solid as they used to. But if I let him in, I’m not just risking my heart—I’m risking hers too… and I already know what losing him costs. I won’t let my daughter pay that price. My Thoughts:  I am hooked on the Chicago Colts.    Baseball, sexy players, wonderful women, cute kids…what else can I ask for?   Decker Davis is who I am asking for.   This is his story and I could not wait to read it.    Penelope is the coach’s daughter with her own seven-year-old daughter to raise.   She also has a history with the Colts third baseman.  The story of Penelope and Decker is messy but full of feelings, heat, and history to unravel.  I could not get enough of these two.  Their story is the perfect addition to The Dugout series.    In true Piper Rayne writing style, the HEA was bound to happen but getting there would be full of heartache, rekindling romance, sexy times, and amazing friendships.   I highly recommend this series.  The books can be read in any order as each is a standalone.    Thank you Valentine PR for a copy of the book via BookFunnel in exchange for my honest review.   Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited https://books2read.com/t-rb Duet Narration by: Teddy Hamilton & Willa Jaymes Also featuring: JF Harding, Sean Masters, Connor Crais, CJ Bloom, Erin Mallon, Meg Sylvan & Austin Stone Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3KxNsjw

Spotlight for A Very Vexing Murder by Lucy Andrew

 

Harriet Smith Investigates #1

A Very Vexing Murder: Harriet Smith Investigates – A Witty Debut Jane Austen Mystery of Murder and Deception in Highbury by Lucy Andrew

Published:  May 12, 2026 by William Morrow

Genre:  Historical Mystery, Retelling

Taken from Goodreads:  Is a killer lurking in the idyllic country domain of Emma Woodhouse?

No longer Emma’s naïve companion, Harriet Smith is a feisty con-woman-turned-detective tasked with breaking off Frank Churchill’s engagement and uncovering his aunt’s would-be murderer. The shrewd Mrs. Churchill suspects Frank’s unsuitable fiancée, Jane Fairfax, is out to kill her, while Harriet suspects little more than a society scandal. But what begins as a routine investigation among Highbury’s elite quickly spirals into a web of deception, deadly secrets, and a game of survival.

As Harriet interrogates a growing list of suspects with the help of her long-suffering best friend, Robert Martin, not only does she have to contend with a potential homicidal maniac and striking out as a single woman in Regency society but is also afraid her father (and former partner-in-crime) is out for revenge.

With a cast of unforgettable characters—including a charming scoundrel, a lovesick farmer, a ghoulish butler, and a ruthless heiress determined to hide her skeletons at any cost— this brilliantly reimagined mystery featuring the characters from Jane Austen’s Emma is as deliciously dark as it is delightfully clever.

 

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A witty debut whodunit that reimagines Harriet Smith, the gullible sidekick of Jane Austen’s Emma , as a spitfire con woman, hired to break off an engagement and uncover a murderer in the genteel village of Highbury.

“Seldom, very seldom, does complete truth belong to any human disclosure.” —Jane Austen, Emma